St. James School has approximately 53 teachers and staff. All of our teachers are fully certified and more than 38% have advanced degrees. Our staff includes a Director of Spiritual Formation and three parish priests who regularly visit the school for teaching opportunities. In addition, we have degreed and certified teachers for foreign language, art, music, learning lab, information technology, and physical education. We also have a speech pathologist, librarian, nurse and school counselor. Please click to the left to read the biographies of our faculty and staff.
Mrs. Judy Pappas, Principal
Email: jpappas@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 4
Phone: 224.345.7150
Education: MAEA, Dominican University, BS, elementary education, Drake University
Certified Catechist, Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Profile: With a lifetime of involvement in Catholic education, Mrs. Pappas combines her passion with her career. Her childhood years were spent at St. Constance School followed by Cardinal Stritch High School and Resurrection High School. Mrs. Pappas taught and ministered for 27 years between St. Veronica School and Resurrection Catholic Academy, both in Chicago. She also served as principal of Our Lady of Humility School in Beach Park, before accepting her current position at St. James in 2005. Judy and her family are parishioners at St. Emily in Mount Prospect where her three children attended elementary school.
During her tenure at St. James School, Mrs. Pappas has concentrated on professional development of the staff. Research has demonstrated that the primary factor in student success is great teaching. By developing their skills and using current pedagogy, Mrs. Pappas has encouraged the staff to become better-skilled teachers. A visible result of this concentration is the National Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award that was achieved by St. James in September of 2008. This accomplishment acknowledges the excellence in teaching, distinction of standardized test scores being in the top ten percent in the nation, a well-rounded education, and an active and involved parent community.
Mrs. Pappas is very involved in the Archdiocesan Catholic educational community. She has served on several committees of the Office of Catholic Schools and is the secretary of Vicariate One’s Principals’ Council. Recently Mrs. Pappas was selected to serve on the Board of Trustees at St. Viator High School.
Catholic education has been a life-long commitment and passion for Mrs. Pappas. As a member of St. James Strategic Planning Committee, her goal is to clarify and ensure dynamic spiritual and academic formation for our children in the years to come.
Mrs. Jackie Balogh, Assistant Principal and Kindergarten
Email: jbalogh@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 108 and Office 200B
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6518
Education: Masters of Arts Education/Reading Specialist, Concordia College and Bachelor of Science Education,Loyola University
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Balogh’s insightfulness and understanding of each student in her classroom is amazing! She really “gets” her students and knows how to reach each one and nurture them to maximize their full academic, spiritual, and emotional potential.
Profile: Mrs. Balogh is very excited about her position as Assistant Principal at St. James School. While working on her master’s program she became vested in carrying out best practice in teaching methods. When a new door opened for her at St. James, she was thrilled. “At St. James we strive to encourage the growth of self-directed continuous learners. I will be working to support the teachers with the tools they need as they provide quality education for our students. Additionally, I will work to support a safe and caring environment for our students as they develop positive relationships with each other.”
Mrs. Balogh has been teaching for thirteen years and she and her husband put their four children through St. James School. Mrs. Balogh decided to become a teacher because she wanted to put her energy and enthusiasm into helping children learn.
Helping children obtain the tools and working with them at their individual level to learn to read is something Mrs. Balogh truly enjoys. Her favorite author is Jan Brett because her books show a picture within a picture, teaching children how to predict what happens next; introduction to prediction increases comprehension.
Mrs. Balogh encourages creativity in the classroom with lots of open-ended activities so children can work to their abilities. Positive reinforcement is also a daily ritual in Mrs. Balogh’s classroom. She greets each child with a positive comment every day they enter the classroom so they feel special and encouraged to start the day.
Preschool
Mrs. Bridget Romano
Email: bromano@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 114
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6521
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Illinois
Early Childhood Certification, prospective 2011
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Romano's dynamic personality is felt in the classroom as she encourages the children to learn, play, and pray along with her high energy and her sincere excitement for learning.
Profile: Mrs. Romano started teaching in 1984 and taught fourth grade before teaching preschool. Both of Mrs. Romano's daughters graduated from SJS and are now well-prepared high school students at St. Viator.
Before entering the world of education, Mrs. Romano worked in business until she decided to follow her calling and her heart to teach and work with children. Mrs. Romano enjoys the flexibility and feeling the love the children give her; plus they listen!
Mrs. Romano encourages creativity in the classroom through teacher demonstration and creative play. She also shows the children the process and steps of doing a project and encourages following directions. Mrs. Romano also teaches through humor and she and her aide, Mrs. Thomas, spend a lot of time laughing with the children.
Mrs. Romano is a firm believer in positive reinforcement and recognizes positive behaviors through verbal praise and rewarding stickers.
Mrs. Marla Gunn
Email: mgunn@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 112
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6520
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Education and History, Marquette University
Parent Testimonial: The endearing and quiet nature of Mrs. Gunn is so appealing to 3 and 4-year-old children. They open up to her and feel very comfortable because of her warmth, acceptance, and classroom structure. It really makes for a wonderful learning environment.
Profile: Mrs. Gunn started teaching in 1976 and has been teaching at St. James since 1991. Before St. James. Mrs. Gunn taught at St. Emily and throughout her career she has taught 3rd grade, 1st grade, and Kindergarten. Mrs. Gunn resides in Arlington Heights with her husband and their three children who graduated from St. James School.
Teaching about Jesus and the Catholic faith is something Mrs. Gunn treasures and this is her gift to her students. She puts faith first in the classroom and teaches the children about prayer, respect, and thankfulness. Mrs. Gunn enjoys the children because of their amazing wonder and curiosity. "You always see things differently in their eyes."
Mrs. Gunn attended Catholic grade school and high school and absolutely loved her experience and the nuns who taught her. She always knew that she, too, would teach in a Catholic school.
Mrs. Gunn remarks on how creativity is encouraged in her classroom; "Creativity IS preschool! Through pretend play and using objects, such as blocks, children can build an entire city. A couple of minutes later, they have built a wall around a farmyard; they exude creativity!"
Kindergarten
Mrs. Jackie Balogh, Assistant Principal and Kindergarten
Email: jbalogh@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 108 and Office 200B
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6518
Education: Masters of Arts Education/Reading Specialist, Concordia College and Bachelor of Science Education,Loyola University
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Balogh’s insightfulness and understanding of each student in her classroom is amazing! She really “gets” her students and knows how to reach each one and nurture them to maximize their full academic, spiritual, and emotional potential.
Profile: Mrs. Balogh is very excited about her position as Assistant Principal at St. James School. While working on her master’s program she became vested in carrying out best practice in teaching methods. When a new door opened for her at St. James, she was thrilled. “At St. James we strive to encourage the growth of self-directed continuous learners. I will be working to support the teachers with the tools they need as they provide quality education for our students. Additionally, I will work to support a safe and caring environment for our students as they develop positive relationships with each other.”
Mrs. Balogh has been teaching for thirteen years and she and her husband put their four children through St. James School. Mrs. Balogh decided to become a teacher because she wanted to put her energy and enthusiasm into helping children learn.
Helping children obtain the tools and working with them at their individual level to learn to read is something Mrs. Balogh truly enjoys. Her favorite author is Jan Brett because her books show a picture within a picture, teaching children how to predict what happens next; introduction to prediction increases comprehension.
Mrs. Balogh encourages creativity in the classroom with lots of open-ended activities so children can work to their abilities. Positive reinforcement is also a daily ritual in Mrs. Balogh’s classroom. She greets each child with a positive comment every day they enter the classroom so they feel special and encouraged to start the day.
Mrs. Kari Resch, Kindergarten
Email: kresch@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 110
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6519
Education: Bachelor of Science Education, Early Childhood Emphasis, University of South Dakota and Endorsements in Special Education, Morningside College
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Resch’s soft-spoken nature and calmness put my daughter at ease right away. My child loves to go to school and enjoys learning something new each day! Mrs. Resch’s love of learning and teaching fosters a successful classroom environment.
Profile: Mrs. Resch began teaching at St. James School in 2002 and became a teacher in 1997 because she loves working with children. She cannot imagine doing anything but help children learn. Mrs. Resch is dedicated to nurturing her students and fostering their growth because of her lifelong love of knowledge in children. She loves to see the children grow spiritually, educationally, responsibly, and emotionally from the first day of school to the day they leave Kindergarten.
Mrs. Resch encourages creativity in the classroom through center-based learning and makes learning fun through a wide-offering of activities, songs, and games throughout the day. She also believes in positive reinforcement and uses behavior cubes to encourage children to behave well individually and a marble jar to encourage students to model good classroom behavior and learn how to work together to fill the jar.
There is an even stronger connection with Mrs. Resch and St. James School because her daughter is a student in the school and she is able to watch her grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally in an environment that fosters the beliefs Mrs. Resch upholds.
Miss Leane Snyder, Kindergarten
Email: lsnyder@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 106
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6514
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education/English, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI
Endorsements: Language Arts, Social Studies, Library Information Specialist
Graduate Student: Language and Literacy, National-Louis University, Skokie, IL
Parent Testimonial: My son described Miss Snyder as fun, excited about teaching, very smart, and he feels very lucky to have been in her class. I saw him take a real interest in reading and writing during this school year, in a way I hadn’t seen before. I believe that this was because of the atmosphere Miss Snyder created in her classroom. I feel very lucky that my son was able to spend this school year learning with and from Miss Snyder.
Profile: Miss Snyder graduated from Carthage College in 2008 and has served as an 8th grade reading/language arts teacher and kindergarten enrichment teacher. She previously worked in Roselle, Schiller Park, and Glencoe school districts. This is her first year at St. James and Miss Snyder is thrilled to be a full-day kindergarten teacher! Growing up in Arlington Heights gives Miss Snyder a strong connection to the community St. James serves.
Miss Snyder believes that all children can succeed in a warm and caring atmosphere. She strives to make the learning process fun and unique for each student, believing that all children have something special to share. Miss Snyder’s passion for children’s literature, music, and the arts can be seen in her lessons. The students in Miss Snyder’s class are often seen reading and exploring beloved children’s books such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. This story helps students compare two different versions of a well-known tale and develop critical literacy skills.
Miss Snyder uses class meetings, centers, songs, games, group activities, exploration, and play to help her students learn. She teaches reading, writing, language, science and social studies by making real-life connections. For example, her daily calendar helps students practice patterns, the days of the week, counting, number recognition, and colors. In order to encourage positive behavior, students can work together as a class to earn Brownie Points which lead to a whole class treat. Students who show their best behavior individually can earn a coveted Golden Ticket. Miss Snyder’s faith guides her life and her work in the classroom, and she strives to do God’s work both in the classroom and in the community.
Primary & Middle Grades
First Grade
Mrs. Patty Brown
Email: pbrown@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 100
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6517
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education, with honors, Northeastern Illinois University Teaching since 1985 and at SJS since 2000
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Brown understands what motivates my child and works hard to reach him in addition to every other student in her classroom. Her individualized approach to teaching allows my child to succeed and be confident in himself and his abilities.
Profile: Creativity is fosterd in Mrs. Brown's classroom through individual story writing, journal writing and drawing, group activities, and center work where students complete projects designed for their skill level. The students are taught through individualized learning where all work is differentiated based on student abilitiy; which allows the students to excel at their own pace.
Writing is a large part of the 1st grade curriculum. Mrs. Brown has the students write in their journals every day on a provided topic. They also write class-books and utilize the Bulldog Press to publish books.
The Catholic faith is incorporated into Mrs. Brown's classroom through daily classroom instruction, special activities during Advent and Lent, working with Father Joji and teaching the children about the elements of the Mass through visits to the chapel and church, attending weekly Mass with the entire school where the class often participate in presenting the readings, and going to the Stations of the Cross during Lent.
The Christian spirit and good student behavior is reinforced through a variety of activities and actions including Student of the Week where a student displays a personal poster in the classroom, personal items that describe them, and a booklet they create about themselves. Every student in the classroom writes three special things about the Student of the Week in their booklet; which is a keepsake to treasure. Students can also earn a class party by filling their classroom marble jar. Marbles are earned by individual students for being well-behaved or for doing an exceptional job learning and put into a jar for all to see. When the jar is filled, the class celebrates with a party.
Mrs. Michelle McNeilly
Email: mmcneilly@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 104
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6516
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Education, Minor in Family & Child studies, Northern Illinois University,Endorsements in Language Arts and Social Science, Nominated for a Golden Apple Award first year teaching, Won award for writing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) Program
Certified Catechist, Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. McNeilly pulled my daughter out of her shell and gave her so much confidence in her writing and reading skills that she excelled dramatically and into the top reading group. She always wanted to please Mrs. McNeilly and loved her warm eyes and smile. She even attended Mrs. McNeilly’s wedding with her classmates and she will always cherish that day and those days in 1st grade.
Profile: When it comes to creativity in the classroom, Mrs. McNeilly follows the philosophy that treats all students individually; "there is not one end result for all students because all students are different. Treating them as such allows creativity to flow in my classroom."
The students in Mrs. McNeilly's classroom are taught through individualized learning where all work is differentiated based on student ability; this allows her students to excel at their own pace and it instills confidence in each of them.
Mrs. McNeilly runs a student-led and interactive classroom. Through center-based learning, the students move around and work in small groups with different students throughout the day. She also brings them to the science lab for experiments and incorporates learning games into many lessons.
Writing is a large part of the 1st grade curriculum. Mrs. McNeilly uses the cross curriculum method where students write for each subject at least once a week. They also write mini-books based on a specific vowel sound each week and utilize the Bulldog Press to publish books.
In Mrs. McNeilly's class, the students are used to hearing, "God created everything." "We belong to a Catholic community", is another Mrs. McNeillyism the students hear daily and how they are responsible for their part in that community.
Encouraging her students is at the forefront of Mrs. McNeilly's teaching style. She shows positive reinforcement through a variety of activities and actions including Student of the Week where a student displays a personal poster in the classroom, personal items that describe them, and a booklet they create about themselves. Every student in the classroom writes three special things about the Student of the Weekin their booklet; a keepsake to treasure. Students can also be Top Banana anytime throughout the day. When Mrs. McNeilly notices a student being a good example to others, that student gets a sticker and kudos from the class for being Top Banana. She also has the class give stand-out students a round of applause. Positive reinforcement and encouragement make Mrs. McNeilly's classroom a natural place to learn and excel in school.
Mrs. Amanda Boyer
Email: aboyer@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 102
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6501
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Eastern Illinois University, Teacher Certification and Anticipated Master of Arts, Elementary Education, Lewis University
Profile: To encourage student creativity, Mrs. Boyer utilizes group activities, technology and center work where students are given the opportunity to excel at an individualized pace. Because writing is a large part of the First Grade curriculum, Mrs. Boyer has the students write daily in their journals on various topics. Additionally, the students write mini-books and utilize the Bulldog Press to publish books.
The Catholic faith is incorporated in Mrs. Boyer’s classroom each day. With activities and discussion, the students embrace their faith and enhance their individual relationship with the Catholic community.
Positive reinforcement and encouragement are the main traits of Mrs. Boyer’s teaching style. One way Mrs. Boyer demonstrates that each student is important is through the Student of the Week, in which a student displays a personal poster in the classroom, personal items that describe them, and a booklet they create about themselves. Every student in the classroom then writes three special things about the Student of the Week in their booklet, which is a keepsake to treasure. The students can also earn a classroom party by filling a jar with warm fuzzies (also known as craft pom-poms), which are earned by individuals and groups of students being well-behaved or doing an exceptional job learning. Once the jar is filled, the class celebrates their good behaviors with a party. A positive attitude is an essential part of Mrs. Boyer’s classroom and she strives to model this in every interaction.
Second Grade
Mrs. Lauren Madden
Email: lmadden@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 126
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6515
Education: MAT, Elementary Education, National Louis University
BS, Business Administration, Marketing/Management, St. Mary’s College
Certified Catechist, Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Heart of the School Award in 2008
Profile: Mrs. Madden encourages creativity in her classroom by giving her students opportunities to express themselves in their own way through speaking, writing, or sharing their own experiences with the class. Letting them express their individuality is important at school, home, and in their social interactions.
There is so much opportunity for writing in second grade. They write fact books, their own prayers, biographies, research papers, and creative stories for the school’s Bulldog Press book publishing program. Second graders also journal every day to express their own thoughts and feelings.
Since second grade is such an important Sacramental year, Mrs. Madden encourages students to grow in their faith in a variety of ways. She has a “Bible Verse of the Week” and the meaning behind this verse is incorporated into her teachings the entire week.
Mrs. Madden always encourages her students to remember they should be modeling Christ everyday through her words “what would Jesus do?” Mrs. Madden teaches her students about the Mass by giving them something special to watch for or listen for during the Friday school Masses and she will later discuss its’ significance when they return to the classroom.
Mrs. Madden’s favorite book to read to her class is You are Special by Max Lucado. The lesson of the book is: “it doesn’t matter what people think or say about you because God made each of us special in our own way. And, He loves us just the way we are… no matter what.”
Miss Jessica Dray
Email: jdray@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 134
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6534
Education: BA, Elementary Education, University of Iowa, Reading Endorsement
Started teaching in 2008 and started at SJS 2010
Profile: Miss Dray encourages independence and creativity in her classroom. She strives on differentiation throughout the classroom and with the students. It is important to her that her students have the opportunity to learn at their individual level along with learning in a style that will help them to grow and thrive within second grade.
Miss Dray encourages her students to grow in their faith and follow in the footsteps of Christ every day. In her class they read fun facts and inspiring ideas for Catholic kids each day (taken from 365 fun facts for Catholic Kids by Bernadette McCarver Snyder). This keeps their faith alive and helps build a positive classroom community.
In second grade, there is a great deal of opportunity for her students to write and express themselves. Miss Dray uses the 6 Traits of Writing and Writer’s Workshop to engage and encourage her students to write.
Miss Dray’s favorite book to read to her class is The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf because it reminds us that we are all special and that we must work together. “We are a box of crayons each one of us unique, but when we get together the picture is complete!”
Third Grade
Mrs. Donna Lynk
Email: dlynk@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 124
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6513
Education: BS Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater
Teaching since 1986
Profile: Mrs. Lynk encourages creativity in the classroom by providing different types of projects that promote each child’s creativity. The students are encouraged to author poems and books, create new lyrics for songs, draw murals and posters, and dramatize plays. Opportunities are provided in the classroom to showcase everyone’s creativity.
Mrs. Lynk also makes a point to have one-on-one time with her students to discuss difficulties or aid them in their task. She writes personal notes on the students’ papers to help with self-improvement or to commend them for their hard work.
Learning is made fun by providing a respectful environment that allows everyone the freedom to be themselves. Sharing ideas in literature circles, playing games with partners, and being involved in small group discussions with classmates makes the day interesting, fun, and rewarding to all.
Writing is incorporated across the third grade curriculum. The students write letters in their Friday Journals to inform their parents about their weekly studies. They complete D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language) every day to practice grammar. In reading they learn that writers write to inform, persuade, and entertain and they are given opportunities to write for each purpose. During religion, the students listen to and discuss the Old Testament bible stories. They then follow an outline and write a summary about each one.
Mrs. Lynk pulls the Catholic faith’s teachings into all the subject areas. From starting the day with religion class, to tying faith into her lesson plans for the various subjects, Mrs. Lynk feels her faith is an integral part of how she teaches. Whether studying natural resources in social studies or recycling in science, Mrs. Lynk makes connections to the Catholic faith and helps the children realize that “everything we do and all we have done was made possible by the love of God.”
Ms. Rachel Kelleher
Email: rkelleher@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 127
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6512
Education: BS Elementary Education, Barat College of DePaul University
Profile: Ms. Kelleher tries to make learning fun by giving students options and choices in their learning. Students who feel they have a say in what they will accomplish that particular day, feel proud and enjoy working toward achieving those goals.
Positive behavior is brought forth in Ms. Kelleher’s classroom through religious reflection. Building her classroom community as a faith community is important to Ms. Kelleher. Her students share, speak, and care the faith. The students learn about how much God put into the world and how they are responsible for respecting it and learning all they can about it. The students show their creativity in religion class through skits, illustrations, and stories about how God works through them to spread the Good News.
Writing is incorporated into each subject and into all of the center-based learning in which the students partake. Students write plays, stories, reports, and responses to questions. The stories and narratives the students write help build their writing skills and their ability to express themselves in written form. Students also write and design posters, book report dioramas, and creative stories to be published into books by theBulldog Press.
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Darlene Potenza
Email: dpotenza@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 122
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6511
Education: BS Education, Lewis University, Magna Cum Laude
Listed in Who’s Who of Education
Started teaching in 1996 and started at SJS in 2002
Heart of the School Award 2011
Certified Catechist, Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Profile: Mrs. Potenza works on activities at all levels suited to the individual’s needs and abilities. It is important for her to recognize everyone’s different learning styles. The class uses all of the resources available to them in the classroom, and doesn’t just focus on textbook learning. Mrs. Potenza leads artistic activities, creative writing, poster work, and lots of “hands-on” lessons.
Mrs. Potenza teaches the importance of writing and uses the Six Trait Writing Program and Writers Workshop. Her fourth graders are writing at all times no matter what subject they are studying. The focus is on having FUN while writing!
Being in a Catholic school is such a blessing for Mrs. Potenza. She is able to share her faith and do her best to act as a role model for her students. Mrs. Potenza attended Catholic schools through college and knows the importance of practicing what she teaches. She stresses that we are all created equal and that it is important to treat others how they wish to be treated.
Critical thinking is emphasized in the classroom. One of her favorite classroom sayings is “Use your Noggin Head” (there is something about the word “noggin” that makes fourth graders giggle). Mrs. Potenza stresses to her students how to think beyond and to realize that they will not find all of the answers in their books. She teaches ways to synthesize information, put it all together, and make an end synopsis. Sometimes they act out situations and make inferences about what might have happened, what could happen, and how the end result could be different in each situation.
The students get so excited when they enter the classroom and see that the SMART Board! Technology is used as a resource all throughout the day, every day. The fourth graders use the computer to conduct research and they search educational websites to find answers to specific questions on any given subject they are studying. They use the SMART Board for science and they really enjoy using the board to explore the human circulatory system. Technology makes learning more fun and hands-on.
Mrs. Potenza’s definition of a life-long learner is someone who never wants to stop learning and always wants to continue their education. “I am a role model for my students in this aspect; I let them know about the continuing education classes I take each summer and in the evenings. I share some of my homework assignments with the class and they even practice some of the activities I’m studying in my classes. They know I’m always trying to reinvent myself so I can be the best teacher I can be to them.”
Mrs. Joanne Olsen
Email: jolsen@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 125
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6510
Education: BS Elementary Education, Northern Illinois University
24 Graduate credits in Education
Committees: Math Curriculum, Religion Curriculum, Archdiocesan Math Committee on Backward Design, Administrative Advisory
Profile: Mrs. Olsen has been teaching since 1974. She took 10 years off to be a full-time mom and volunteered in her children’s classroom and tutored math. She taught at St. John the Evangelist in Streamwood, St. Phillip the Apostle in Northfield, and has been at St. James since 1999. Mrs. Olsen also worked as an instructional assistant in the Palatine and Park Ridge school systems.
Mrs. Olsen piloted the Accelerated Math Program in 2000; a computerized program that differentiates the math program. The students love to scan their practice assignments and have the computer grade it instantly. Students then correct their work and she talks with them about their progress. If a student had a difficult time with an assignment, they do additional problems on that objective. If a student did well, he or she will work on new objectives.
“The wonderful part of teaching in a Catholic School is that you can incorporate religion in everything you do.” Fourth grade studies the Beatitudes and the Commandments. The class talks about how this teaching should be applied in the lunchroom, the playground, and in their daily lives. Living their religion is the most important thing they can learn at St. James School.
In addition to writing in writing class, students write to explain their problem-solving process in math. In social studies students answer essay questions in paragraphs. They are constantly being told to answer in complete sentences.
Mrs. Olsen asks students to utilize higher-order thinking skills by using these questions: Why do you think? What inference can you make? How would you improve? How would you predict?
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Brenna O’Hearn
Email: bohearn@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 120
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6509
Education: BS Education and English, Eastern Illinois University
Profile: Mrs. O’Hearn believes students need order when learning, starting with basic comprehension and moving into more complex patterns of thinking. She follows the concepts identified in Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning which states that there are various levels of intellectual behavior important in learning and students need to develop their thinking in this way. The theory suggests that students start with the very basic concept of remembering what they learned/read and then suggests students continue along the spectrum with higher-order thinking of understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and finally creating. Mrs. O’Hearn models this behavior by asking questions that lead her students to prepare their thoughts and answers in this way.
Mrs. O’Hearn likes to involve her students in the planning of their various assignments. She sets the guidelines and offers them the opportunity to suggest how they might go about structuring the assignment to effectively meet the objectives defined.
She also uses technology to enrich her lessons by using the SMART Boards for interactive sentence structuring and teach the students how to use the internet to find answers.
Mrs. O’Hearn incorporates writing across all subjects to help her students better develop their writing style. In Language Arts, she exposes her students to the various styles of writing including expository, persuasive, and narrative. The students write in their journals daily and Mrs. O’Hearn often uses their journaling time to introduce new topics for them to practice creative writing.
The Catholic faith is incorporated into Mrs. O’Hearn’s curriculum through her faith-based approach to all aspects of learning. For example, in social studies the class discusses how humans are the keepers of the earth that God created for all of people and how all people must respect their communities.
Mrs. Anna Tufano
Email: atufano@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 123
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6508
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Business Leadership, University of Dallas
Parent Testimonial: Mrs. Tufano’s personal interest and encouragement has kept my child focused on working hard in school. She is a positive role model and really seems to bring out the best in all of her students.
Profile: Mrs. Tufano began teaching fifth grade in 2007 and is very excited about continuing to do so at St. James School. She feels blessed to have the experience of being a positive influence in her students’ lives. It is important to her to establish a nurturing environment where all students are accepted as they are, yet challenged to constantly work toward their improved performance.
Mrs. Tufano’s consistent classroom management and positive attitude help promote student growth in her classroom. She invites students to learn through exploration of all subject areas by using hands-on manipulatives, educational games, and many other creative activities and strategies. The fifth grade students not only read and analyze a variety of texts, they also learn to interact with the text and practice communicating through their writing daily. Mrs. Tufano encourages her students to participate in our faith and model a missionary life. “Pay attention. Be amazed. Tell about it.”
Ultimately, she hopes to teach all of her students to take the knowledge, skills, and values that they have learned at St. James and meet their full potential as productive Catholic leaders in our society.
Upper Grades
Sixth Grade
Mrs. Karen Driscoll
Email: kdriscoll@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 202
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6507
Education: BS in education, Loyola University, Wal-mart Teacher of the Year, Golden Apple Nominee, Heart of the School Award
Profile: “The best part of teaching is being in the classroom with sixth graders; what a great age!” Mrs. Driscoll has been teaching at St. James School since 1971 and her areas of specialty include math, religion, and social studies.
Mrs. Driscoll utilizes higher-order thinking skills in her classroom through modeling. “It is important to model and “think out loud” about our thinking. You need to ask the right questions, in order to get thoughtful answers. Memorizing, certainly, is not the same as thinking. I employ the strategies from the book by Robert Marzano called Classroom Instruction that Works. Marzano suggests that it is important to use verbal and non-verbal explanations in order to understand material and concepts better.”
In social studies, Mrs. Driscoll often uses technology to enrich the lessons. She uses various websites to enhance the curriculum and the students do self-check quizzes for test preparation.
Mrs. Driscoll is a proponent of life-long learning and promotes it by giving her students opportunities to help each other and explain their thinking to their classmates. “We learn best when we can teach what we know. A life-long learner is someone who is curious, willing to learn, and willing to teach others.”
Mrs. Kittie Reiners
Email: kreiners@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 206
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6505
Education: MA in education, Roosevelt University, BS in education, Northern Illinois University
Profile: Mrs. Reiners teaches 6th and 7th grade science and emphasizes scientific inquiry as a foundation to the curriculum she teaches. Students generate their own scientific questions, create experiments, gather and analyze data, and evaluate outcomes. They perform activities that foster higher-order thinking including designing experiments such as testing urban myths, growing mold, creating crystals, and designing an invention.
Her students also use technology to enrich their study of science. Seventh graders complete virtual cell and virtual frog dissection using the SMARTBoard. Sixth graders generate data graphs, explore a variety of websites, and view computer video clips and movies in their enrichment centers.
Mrs. Reiners thoroughly enjoys teaching and loves it when students complete a long-term project and are full of pride in their achievement and learning. "I love to see students rush excitedly into the science lab looking forward to the day's lab activity."
"A good science class stimulates curiosity and fosters a sense of wonderment about God's creation. I incorporate our Catholic faith into my science curriculum through our study of life science. We discuss the value and essence of life and learn about God's nature. We also discuss our Catholic faith through the books we read in class like the Author's Message; which teaches ethics and values."
Seventh Grade
Mrs. Nancy Gottung
Email: ngottung@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 210
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6504
Education: MA, St. Joseph University and BS, argronomy, Cornell University Teaching certificate in middle and high school education, Hartford, CT Worked as a soil scientist for USDA
Profile: Mrs. Gottung began teaching middle school and High School science and geography in 2004. Before teaching, she was a soil scientist for the USDA. She worked for the Cooperative Extension Service, affiliated with Cornell, in Jefferson County, NY. There, she helped evaluate herbicides and pesticides. After having children, Mrs. Gottung stayed home to raise them and later decided to go back to school to become a teacher. She loves it and wishes she had done it sooner!
Mrs. Gottung believes in life-long learning and believes it is the premise of science. Her class uses inquiry-based learning, not straight textbook reading. Her students receive questions and figure out a logical way to answer them through data and evidence. She teaches the process of science which is how to have a logical thought process. She teaches students to question the validity of data and evaluate it.
In her class, character is all-encompassing. She shows the students a video of Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins, speaking about his success of rising from poverty due to God, a powerful faith story, and she’s thrilled to be able to show it without caveat that she’s not trying to indoctrinate her students because this is a Catholic school. “Living our faith to the best of our God-given talent is our duty. You must give back.” Mrs. Gottung does not tolerate less than an upbeat attitude in her class and makes science fun and engaging to her students.
Mrs. Gottung’s ideal school is one that fosters character-based learning. “We have it and the public schools do not. Our students care about being respectful, they are open to learning, and they do not waste their time in school. I feel SJS is the ideal school; although, I would like a field to set-off rockets!”
Mr. Brad Callard
7th & 8th Grade Math
Email: bcallard@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 212
Education: BS, Mathematics with Minor in Education with Secondary Teacher Certification, grades 6-12, Benedictine University
Profile: Guiding students to reach their full potential is the main goal of Mr. Callard’s teaching methods. He uses a humanistic and pragmatic approach to his teaching. Mr. Callard builds an environment upon the math concepts students already understand and expects students to build cognitive and analytical skills. These skills empower students to think through a variety of situations; a skill students need to carry with them throughout life. Mr. Callard encourages students through constructive comments and invites them to share their opinions, ideas, and misconceptions in a comfortable learning environment.
“As an educator, it is my job to recognize that every student is an individual with unique abilities and has a voice that needs to be nurtured for the student to grow and learn. I will teach my students by employing a variety of techniques that will enable them to grow in understanding, intelligence, wisdom, motivation, and curiosity about the academic world.”
By the end the year, students should feel comfortable talking about math, problem-solving, and thinking logically through a multitude of situations.
Eighth Grade
Miss Mary Welk
Email: mwelk@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 216
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6502
Education: BA, Social Sciences and History, Dominican University Nominated for Archdiocese of Chicago Rising Star Award in 2008
Profile: Miss Welk teaches social studies and religion and they often go hand-in-hand. The students discuss issues of religion throughout the year depending on what they are studying in class. The school’s Spiritual Formation Director, Pat Farrell, speaks with Miss Welk’s classes when they study topics such as the Civil War, slavery, World War II and the holocaust. With the fortunate opportunity of being in a Catholic school, students can use prayer in daily life. For example, Miss Welk’s classes said a prayer on Veteran’s Day for all of the soldiers, past and present, because they help to protect rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In Miss Welk’s classes, she stresses the importance of critical and analytical thinking. She often tells her students that everyone in her class needs to have an opinion. But, she also tells them that they need evidence and support to back it up. Miss Welk wants her students to think logically, thus they complete research papers and answer higher-order thinking questions and hold debates.
As a social studies teacher, Miss Welk has a challenging job to encourage life-long learners in a subject area where most students find history boring. She likes to get the students excited about history by connecting it to the students’ current lives and interests. She also explains how history must be studied so people don’t repeat past mistakes. Miss Welk creates group and social opportunities and most importantly, she shows the students her own passion for history and learning. If she can demonstrate how excited she is about it, the students get excited as well.
Miss Welk incorporates technology into her classroom by asking her students to complete PowerPoint presentations and they use the computer lab for research. She also works in conjunction with the Information Technology teacher and they discuss new ways to incorporate technology. Miss Welk presents information on the computer to the students by using primary sources and images from the internet, such as the Library of Congress. She loves to use the SMARTBoards and attends workshops to learn how to incorporate technology into the classroom.
The best part of teaching for Miss Welk is building relationships with her students, families, and co-workers. “The students really are the best! Every day they put a smile on my face. They have so much energy and excitement for life that I just want to help them achieve all of their goals. Also, I love that moment when something ‘clicks’ for a student and you can see in their eyes that they just ‘get it.’ It’s amazing to see that change that happens over the course of one school year.”
Mrs. Katie Whitecotton
Email: kwhitecotton@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 214
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6503
Education: MA, Reading & Language, National-Louis University, 2012 prospective grad BS, Elementary Education,DePaul University, with Honors
Profile: As a reading teacher, Mrs. Whitecotton draws on elements of the Catholic faith to help walk students through various themes or moral issues that may arise in novels selected or reading pieces required for class.
Through reading, she feels that higher-order thinking is inherently embedded. Mrs. Whitecotton challenges her students to take the lessons to varying levels. Some lessons may involve basic comprehension skills or identifying major themes whereas as others may require students to make more complex text-to-self connections.
The students have the opportunity to use the computer lab for literature circles and then present their material to the class on SMARTBoards. Mrs. Whitecotton also uses the SMARTBoard technology for the class to reference various websites that support current lessons.
A life-long learner is someone who is willing to learn new information and new technology about material with which they are not familiar as well as learn additional information on a topic that they already know. Mrs. Whitecotton promotes life-long learning by modeling the concept to her students. If she does not have the answer to a student’s question, she will research it and get back to them.
Mrs. Whitecotton’s ideal school would be a place where every student feels safe and where they can express their ideas. Ideally, the school would attend to every learning style of every student and focus on how each student learns best. She feels St. James is a place that possesses these qualities and she is so grateful to be a part of it!
Mrs. Whitecotton enjoys working with children every day and being creative doing new things with her students. As a graduate student, she is familiar with the latest practices and techniques for reading and enjoys applying them to her classes.
Spanish
Mrs. Caitlin Felgenhauer, Upper Level Spanish
Email: cfelgenhauer@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 206
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6531
Education: BS Spanish and Education, Benedictine University, Studied in Mexico and Spain.
Profile: It is very easy to incorporate religion in my teaching because so much of the Hispanic heritage is centered on religion and religious activities. The children learn prayers in Spanish and learn about the different religious holidays.
The basis of how the Spanish curriculum is taught is that high school Spanish is divided among 3 grades, starting with grade 6. The first year the class is really taught the basics and how to apply them in everyday conversations. Then the class is focused on how to apply the language skills and translate from English into Spanish. One of the activities the students do is creating a passport of all the Spanish speaking countries!
A life-long learner is someone who consistently is looking for new things to learn. Mrs. Felgenhauer is a part of the American Council for Teachers of Foreign Language. This organization sends out monthly newsletters with different ideas that she can implement in teaching. In addition, she stays in contact with the local high schools so that she can make sure they are aligned.
Spiritual Formation
Mrs. Pat Farrell, Director of Spiritual Formation
Email: pfarrell@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 200A
Phone: 224.345.7149
Education: MPS Loyola University Institute of Pastoral Studies (expected graduation Dec. 2010), MA Northeastern Illinois University, MA Dominican University, BA (Rosary College (now Dominican University), Graduate of Together in God’s Service (T.I.G.S. – Archdiocesan program for Lay Ecclesial Ministry formation, Graduate of Institute of Spiritual Leadership, Graduate of Lay Ministry Program
Certified Catechist, Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry and the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Profile: Mrs. Farrell started doing catechetical work at age 19, and still enjoys the excitement of seeing faith come alive in young people. She develops liturgies, provides resources for teachers and catechists, presents special topics, and writes articles for families to help them share their faith with their children. Mrs. Farrell also provides care and bereavement ministries for school families.
Mrs. Farrell’s greatest joy is “found in my three children: Ann, in whom I see God's creativity; Joe, in whom I see God's love; and Patrick, in whom I see God's joy. And, of course, my wonderful husband, Jerry, who holds it all together and enables me to understand that God is always calling us into a deeper relationship.” Mrs. Farrell tries to exemplify the comment from St. Francis, that we should "Preach the Gospel at all time. If necessary, use words."
Music/Art/Tech
Mrs. Karen Luehr, Music K-8
Email: kleuhr@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 107
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6524
Education: MA, Music Education, North Park University, BA, Music Education, North Park University
Profile: Mrs. Luehr is excited to be teaching general music at St. James School! She has been teaching music since 2002 in Harwood Heights, IL and Northbrook, IL. While studying in college, Mrs. Luehr participated in several choirs, the orchestra, band, and a woodwind quintet. She also plays the oboe and piano, and sings. Mrs. Luehr absolutely loves teaching music to all ages! “Music is an amazing form of expression. I am also blessed to have a wonderful husband, Mike, and an amazing daughter, Emma.”
Mrs. Mary McDermott
Email: mmcdermott@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 103
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6525
Education/affiliations/awards: Masters in Music Education, VanderCook College of Music. Illinois Music Education Association Member, National Flute Society Member, and Chicago Flute Club Member.
Profile: Mrs. McDermott has been teaching instrumental music for 27 years and has been at St. James School for 5.5 years. She performs on the flute, sings in the church choir, and has doubled on saxophone in jazz band and musical pit orchestras throughout college. She was musical director of Joseph and the Amazing Techinicolor Dreamcoat at the University of Illinois in 1985. She took a break from performing to raise her four children who are all involved in music at their respective schools. Most recently, Mrs. McDermott was a townsperson in the St. James Summer Theater production of The Music Man and helped to secure instruments for the boy’s band, taught them how to hold their instruments, march with them, and perform on stage for the musical. Mrs. McDermott is dedicated to providing quality instrumental music education to all students who show a desire to learn an instrument. Music is a gift from God that begins with a student’s desire to learn an instrument. Once that desire has been discovered, the possibilities are endless!
The St. James School Band program begins in 4th grade and continues throughout middle school. Students experience a differentiated learning environment and are welcome to perform in a variety of bands and ensembles including Beginning Band, Jr. Band, Sr. Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Our musicians have the opportunity to perform at school masses and special school events like Tip-Off, the Christmas Program, the Lee DeWyze assembly, the 6th grade Passover Seder Meal, and Catholic Schools Week. St. James is also a host school for Solo & Ensemble Festival in the spring. The St. James Band program strives to follow the National Standards for Music Education.
Mrs. McDermott feels blessed to be able to teach music at St. James School and nurture the students’ musical growth and faith life. Performing music, whether on an instrument or singing, is like praying twice.
Mrs. Christine M. Trausch
Art Director, 4th-8th grade
Email: ctrausch@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 201
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6532
I have been teaching at St. James since 1995. The best part of teaching is seeing a student be proud of something he or she created! I received my B.F.A. in art education from the University of Illinois in 1983 and am certified to teach K-12. I am also actively involved in St. James extra-curricular activities including designing and painting sets for the SJS Jr. High play, and CFM & Marriage preparation through St. James Parish. Outside of school I enjoy watercolor painting and family activities including dinners, sports and vacations.
Favorite Quote: “I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God’s help I shall succeed.”- Vincent Van Gogh.
Mrs. Patricia Healy
Information Technology, K-3rd grade
Email: phealy@stjamesschoolah.org
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6529
I have been at St. James since 1978. I received my undergraduate degree from Loyola University and my master’s degree from National Louis University. My specialty is computer technology. I began my teaching career as an art teacher. Yes, many of our present-day moms and dads remember me as their Art teacher! Later, while pursuing a degree in technology, a career change occurred. I now teach K-5th graders in the computer labs. Both paths received the same student response, “What are we going to do today?!” Yes, education can be enjoyable.
Mrs. Nicoll Blomquist
Information Technology, Grade 3-8/7th Grade Reading/Resource Librarian
Email: nblomquist@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 203
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6530
Education: BS Education, Middle School Endorsement, Literature and Language Arts, National-Louis University
MA, National-Louis University, School Library Information Specialist
Profile: Mrs. Blomquist teaches third through eighth grade technology classes and focuses on using technology to enhance the already rich curriculum. Students are encouraged to think critically about new technologies and to automatically evaluate the sources of information they come across.
By integrating the curriculum into technology classes, students have the opportunity to use the Internet and its various tools to reinforce tough concepts and main ideas introduced in the classroom. By doing this in a safe environment, students will be better able to make wise decisions in the ever-changing technological world in which we live.
Mrs. Blomquist is a firm believer of lifelong learning and promotes learning through exploration.
“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born of another time”. -Hebrew Proverb
Physical Education
Mrs. Karen Erland, Physical Education Kindergarten through Fourth Grade
Email: kerland@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 105
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6526
Education: BS, Physical Education, Northeastern Illinois University
Profile: Mrs. Erland has been teaching PE at St. James School since 1977. Mrs. Erland truly enjoys working with the children at St. James School and gets them excited about sports, exercise, health, and nutrition. Her dynamic and high-energy personality and great sense of humor keeps the students smiling and laughing!
Mrs. Erland now teaches some 2nd-generation SJS families and loves seeing the tradition at St. James School. Her own children graduated from SJS! In addition to teaching PE, Mrs. Erland runs the after-school program.
Outside of work, Mrs. Erland’s “loves” include her granddaughter, health and nutrition, and exercise.
Mrs. Mary Beth Pettenuzzo, Physical Education Fifth through Eighth Grade
Email: mpettenuzzo@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 105
Phone: 224.345.7145, mailbox 6527
Education: BS, Physical Education and Health/Recreation, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Teaching since 1983 and at St. James School since 1988
Profile: Mrs. Pettenuzzo fosters growth in Physical Education for children with different levels of skills. She focuses on enhancing social interaction and gives her students opportunities to socialize and compete against all students by changing teams often throughout the year. Mrs. Pettenuzzo challenges her students to always give their best effort and uses unique ways to pick teams and partners to promote compassion and sportsmanship.
Special Resources
Mrs. Janet Pateras
Special Education
K-5th grade
Email: jpateras@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 220
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6523
Education: MA, Northeastern University, Special Education (Learning Disabilities and Social/Emotional Disorders).
BA, Speech & Language Pathology and Psychology, Elmhurst College
Profile: Mrs. Pateras has been teaching at St. James School since 2001. The best part of teaching is the wonderful students. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family. I am wife to Mike and mother to Greg, Brian and Christopher. My favorite quote is “Be happy!”
Mrs. Dianne Groth
Learning Lab
6th-8th grades
Email: dgroth@stjamesschoolah.org
Location: Room 220
Phone: 224.345.7145, Mailbox 6522
Education: BS in Special and Elementary Education, Northern Illinois University
Endorsements in the areas of Learning Disabled, Behavior and Emotionally Disabled, Mentally Disabled, K-12 Certification
Heart of the School Award
Profile: Mrs. Groth has been teaching since 1970 and at St. James since 1990. She and her husband are St. James parishioners and her son was a member of SJS’s first Kindergarten class and a 1994 graduate. Mrs. Groth loves to watch her students learn and grow! It is most exciting when former students return years later to share their many achievements and successes.
Mrs. Groth’s goal as a teacher is to help her students identify their learning strengths, to support and encourage them to be successful in all subject areas, and to grow into motivated life-long learners.
Mrs. Rita Ellis
Instructional Aide
Email: rellis@stjamesschoolah.org
Phone: 224.345.7145
Education: MA, Education and Curriculum, DePaul University
BA, Education and Music, St. Xavier University
Profile: Mrs. Ellis has been teaching at St. James School since 1991 and a parishioner of St. James since 1985. Mrs. Ellis’s son, Dan, graduated from SJS! Mrs. Ellis loves teaching and working with the children so they can reach their potential within a pleasant environment.
Mrs. Ellis has been teaching since 1967 in grades Kindergarten through 5thgrade. She also has twelve years of administrative experience in the Chicago Archdiocese, Chicago Public Schools, and Parks and Recreation District.
Outside of school, Mrs. Ellis enjoys teaching piano, gardening, and being an avid Snoopy/Peanuts collector.
Mrs. Joanne Samuels
Instructional Aide
Email: jsamuels@stjamesschoolah.org
Phone: 224.345.7145
Education: BS Elementary Education, College of St. Teresa
Profile: Mrs. Samuels taught for eleven years; starting as a substitute teacher in 1996 and moving to an instructional aide in the primary grades in 1999. Mrs. Samuels has the privilege of getting to know the children when they are little and watching them grow and change when she reenters their classrooms as a substitute teacher. Outside of school Mrs. Samuels likes to read, take art classes, and spend time with her family.
Mrs. Judy Giovannetti
Instructional Aide
Email: jgiovannetti@stjamesschoolah.org
Phone: 224.345.7145
Education: BSC Accounting, DePaul University
Teaching Certification, Roosevelt University
Profile: Mrs. Giovannetti is a Math Instructional Aide for grades 3 through 8. She focuses on assisting classroom teachers with differentiation at all levels. She enjoys working with students one-on-one or in small group situations. Having students be comfortable and successful in their math skills are goals for which Mrs. Giovannetti strives.
Mrs. Giovanneti is also a Learning Lab Instructional Aide for the upper grades. She assists students in math, learning strategies, and content area support.
Mrs. Dianne Bombick
Email: dbombick@sd25.org
Location: Room 130
Phone: 847-506-6999, extension 7133
Education: MS Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois
BS Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois
Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language Hearing Association
Type-10 Certificate
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the State of Illinois
Profile: Mrs. Bombick has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist with D25 since 1980, and is thoroughly enjoying her experience at St. James and the other parochial schools. Mrs. Bombick’s family and her work are her greatest joys. “One of the best things about working with children is how refreshingly honest they are!”
